Scour Critical Bridges in Illinois
99 bridges in Illinois at risk from water erosion around foundations.
Scour Critical Bridges
Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 99 bridges in Illinois have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 550 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 550 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1983 | 500 |
| WABASH RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1906 | 500 |
| ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1967 | 500 |
| WABASH RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1906 | 500 |
| Clear Creek | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1987 | 450 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1999 | 400 |
| JORDAN CREEK TRIB | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2001 | 350 |
| TOWN CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 275 |
| HONEY CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 250 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 250 |
| PANTHER CR | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 250 |
| Flint Creek | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 225 |
| VERMILION RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1969 | 200 |
| I255 & HARDING DITCH | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 200 |
| ELK HORN CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 175 |
| COON CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 150 |
| TYLER CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 150 |
| S BRANCH SALT CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 150 |
| PISCASAW CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1975 | 125 |
| KYTE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1975 | 125 |
| MOLE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 100 |
| ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 100 |
| HENDERSON RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 100 |
| SANGAMON RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 75 |
| EAGLE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 75 |
| SKUNK CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 75 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1969 | 75 |
| TRIB E FK MAZON RIV | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 50 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 50 |
| WEST FORK MAZON R | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 50 |
| COON CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 50 |
| EDWARDS RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 50 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 50 |
| ELK HORN CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 50 |
| LITTLE ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 50 |
| POPE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1971 | 50 |
| KULT DITCH | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1991 | 25 |
| POPE CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 25 |
| TRIB E FORK MAZON R | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 25 |
| NORTH FORK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 25 |
| Kult Ditch | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1991 | 25 |
| ELKHORN CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 25 |
| LITTLE ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 10 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2009 | 10 |
| TRIB OF ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 10 |
| CANY CREEK | Illinois | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | — |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action. |
About Scour Critical Bridges
Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.